Finding equation of normal to a curve.

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July 17th 2010, 04:29 AM
jgv115

Finding equation of normal to a curve.

Well I got this question:

Differentiate from first principals (i did it) $f=x^3$ $f'(x) = 3x^2$

Find the equation of the normal to the curve at point where x = 3.

So first I found y. $y=(3)^3 y=27$ That means we got $(3,27)$

Then I subbed 3 into $3x^2$ to get the gradient of the tangent. Answer is $27$

Since the normal and tangent are perpendicular the formula is $m_{2} = \frac {-1}{m_{1}}$ So that makes $\frac {-1}{27}$

Then I subbed it into $y-y_{1} = m(x-x_{1}$

$y-27=\frac{-1}{27}(x+3)$

Finally I get

$-27y+726=x+3$ but for some reason the answers in the book says it's different :(

Did I do anything wrong?

Also, I need help with another question:

If $y=x^3-3x^2$ find the derivative and find the values of y when $\frac{dy}{dx} = 0$

How would I go about starting this one?
July 17th 2010, 05:04 AM
earboth

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgv115

Well I got this question:

Differentiate from first principals (i did it) $f=x^3$ $f'(x) = 3x^2$

Find the equation of the normal to the curve at point where x = 3.

So first I found y. $y=(3)^3 y=27$ That means we got $(3,27)$

Then I subbed 3 into $3x^2$ to get the gradient of the tangent. Answer is $27$

Since the normal and tangent are perpendicular the formula is $m_{2} = \frac {-1}{m_{1}}$ So that makes $\frac {-1}{27}$

Then I subbed it into $y-y_{1} = m(x-x_{1})$

$y-27=\frac{-1}{27}(x-3)$ <=== you used the wrong sign in the bracket

Finally I get

$-27y+726=x+3$ but for some reason <=== maybe they believe that 27² = 729
the answers in the book says it's different :(

Did I do anything wrong?

Also, I need help with another question:

If $y=x^3-3x^2$ find the derivative and find the values of y when $\frac{dy}{dx} = 0$

How would I go about starting this one?

To your last question: I know that you know how to find the drivatie: Differentiate y wrt x. Solve the equation for x:

$3x^2-6x = 0$
July 17th 2010, 11:52 PM
jgv115

Quote:

Originally Posted by earboth

To your last question: I know that you know how to find the drivatie: Differentiate y wrt x. Solve the equation for x:

$3x^2-6x = 0$

mm what do you mean i put the wrong sign? I'm pretty sure x is 3.

What does y wrt x mean?
July 18th 2010, 12:11 AM
Prove It

It's actually the next step which is wrong, since when you multiply both sides by $-27$ you should get

$-27y + 729 = x - 3$ .

"wrt" means "with respect to". So Earboth is saying find $\frac{dy}{dx}$ .
July 18th 2010, 12:28 AM
jgv115

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prove It

It's actually the next step which is wrong, since when you multiply both sides by $-27$ you should get

$-27y + 729 = x - 3$ .

"wrt" means "with respect to". So Earboth is saying find $\frac{dy}{dx}$ .

Yea, I actually typed it wrong.

I was meant to type:
$-27y + 726 = x$ . I got 729 then I had to subtract 3 and i get 726. The answer says it's 732 though :S

And why do you have the equate the $\frac {dy}{dx}$ to 0?

$3x^2-6x = 0$

$3x(x-2) =0$

$x = 0$ $x= 2?$
July 18th 2010, 01:10 AM
Prove It

Because that's what you were told to do in the question...

You have found the $x$ values of the stationary points, now substitute back into the original function to find the corresponding $y$ values.
July 18th 2010, 01:49 AM
jgv115

y=0 and y=4

yay! :)
July 18th 2010, 01:51 AM
Prove It

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgv115

Yea, I actually typed it wrong.

I was meant to type:
$-27y + 726 = x$ . I got 729 then I had to subtract 3 and i get 726. The answer says it's 732 though :S

And why do you have the equate the $\frac {dy}{dx}$ to 0?

$3x^2-6x = 0$

$3x(x-2) =0$

$x = 0$ $x= 2?$

Like I said, you should have

$-27y + 729 = x - 3$ .

Now you have to ADD 3 to both sides (to undo the -3 ) which gives

$-27y + 732 = x$ as required.
July 18th 2010, 01:56 AM
jgv115

yea i get it!! (stupid mistake)